1915 Willoughby state by-election
# 1915 Willoughby state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Willoughby on 16 September 1915 following the death of Edward Larkin (Labor) who was killed in action at Gallipoli.

## Dates

| Date | Event |
| - | - |
| 25 April 1915 | Edward Larkin died. |
| 26 August 1915 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. |
| 2 September 1915 | Nominations |
| 18 September 1915 | Polling day |
| 25 September 1915 | Second Round polling day |
| 30 September 1915 | Return of writ |

## Candidates

The Liberal Reform Party chose not to nominate a candidate and Charles Wade, the Leader of the Opposition, encouraged Liberals not to vote in the election, stating "it would be almost indecent to launch a fierce party contest over the grave of a man who had given his life on behalf of all parties." Opposition to the Labor candidate was a source of controversy between Wade and the Premier, William Holman.

* John Chambers (Labor) was the selected Labor candidate and an official of the Tramway union.
* Edward Clark (Independent) had represented Labor, Free Trade and Liberal Reform for St Leonards and Willoughby, before becoming an independent and member of the Single Tax League since 1907. He was also an alderman of the North Sydney Council.
* John Haynes (Independent Democrat) had been defeated for pre-selection as the Liberal Reform candidate for the 1913 election and the Liberal Reform party was accused of providing covert support for him.
* Thomas Redgrave (Independent) was an alderman of Willoughby Council and was described by The Daily Telegraph as an independent labor.
* Michael Roland (Australian Democrat) was a baker from Newtown.
* John Wilson (Independent) was the general secretary of the Post and Telegraph officers association and was described by The Daily Telegraph as an independent liberal.

## Result

1915 Willoughby by-election Saturday 18 September :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | John Chambers | 1,753 | 42.4 | -0.2 |
| | Independent Democrat | John Haynes | 1,659 | 40.1 | |
| | Independent Liberal | John Wilson | 269 | 6.5 | |
| | Independent Labor | Thomas Redgrave | 232 | 5.6 | |
| | Independent | Edward Clark | 216 | 5.2 | +3.0 |
| | Australian Democrat | Michael Roland | 4 | 0.1 | |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 4,133 | 98.0 | -1.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 84 | 2.0 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,217 | 33.9 | -37.7 |

A second ballot was necessary because no candidate had won an absolute majority.

1915 Willoughby by-election - Second Round Saturday 25 September :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent Democrat | John Haynes | 3,491 | 56.8 | |
| | Labor | John Chambers | 2,660 | 43.3 | -8.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,151 | 99.1 | -0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 56 | 0.9 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,207 | 49.8 | -25.8 |
| | Independent Democrat gain from Labor | Independent Democrat gain from Labor | Swing | N/A | |
